"I need to change my life. I need to get back to my life." These are simple phrases many people repeat to themselves during tough times. However, few manage to make the change. The 27-year-old boxer Gonzalez can boast of being one of the few who have achieved such a transformation.

Once considered the most promising amateur boxer in the United States, Gonzalez distanced herself from the sport after failing to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Her defeat by a narrow decision in the final fight of the national selection process left her devastated and directionless.

In the following years, the young Californian fell into depression, went through a complicated relationship, had a brief and unsatisfactory stint in the Army, and distanced herself from her family.

However, three years ago, a moment of inspiration while browsing Instagram led her to resume her boxing career, "I wasn't born to do this normal job. I'm supposed to travel the world doing what I love," she said to herself.

Gonzalez was working at a kickboxing gym in Virginia when she saw photos of her former teammates enjoying travels and competitions around the world. The photo that triggered the change in her was one where her friends and former teammates were enjoying themselves in Spain.

Seeing the photos felt like a knife piercing her chest. That reality check pulled her out of her lethargy, reminding her that she needed to change her life. She decided to move back west, reconcile with her family, and return to the gym.

Thus, after nearly half a decade away from the sport, González resumed training with the determination to fulfill her dream: to be part of the US Olympic boxing team.

Her dedication and hard work quickly paid off. Less than two years after returning to boxing, Gonzalez qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. "It's like Lazarus coming back from the dead," said Billy Walsh, head coach of USA Boxing. Now 27, she has become a solid contender with strong chances of medaling in the women's lightweight division.

Under her father's guidance, and focusing on training as the key to her transformation, she resumed an intense exercise routine and adopted a strict diet prepared by her mother. This discipline helped her lose weight and stay in the 60-kilogram category. The athlete also prepared mentally through therapy, strengthening her determination and focus.

But to reach success, she first had to walk through hard and winding paths. After her fateful non-qualification for the Rio Games, she joined the Army with hopes of boxing in the military program, but quickly became disillusioned.

The lack of pressure from the military coaches and the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2018 national championships left her adrift again. Additionally, her relationship with boxer Shakur Stevenson and their eventual breakup also marked a turbulent period in her life.

Despite these emotional setbacks, she never lost sight of her dream. When USA Boxing offered her the chance to return to the 60-kilogram category, she accepted despite her doubts.

Her rise in the category was facilitated when Rashida Ellis left the team, making Gonzalez the number one contender in the US lightweight division. It was then that González qualified for the Paris Olympics after her standout performance, winning bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games.

For Gonzalez, the Paris Games represent a chance for redemption and the culmination of years of struggle and sacrifice. "This time I'm not going to lose my ticket," she stated confidently in a recent interview. With her hair dyed pink and an Olympic rings tattoo on her thigh, Gonzalez is ready to face the challenge and seek the Olympic glory she has always dreamed of.